One of the top 10 things to do in Side is visiting the ruins of the Roman amphitheater, which was built in the middle of the 2nd century AD and could accommodate almost 20,000 spectators. There is evidence that this is where the gladiator fights with wild animals took place and what is interesting, is that there were mock sea battles, for which the theater was filled with water.

A lot of valuable items were discovered in Side during archaeological excavations, especially in the 20th century, and all of these can be seen at the Museum of the city. The open-air museum has a striking collection of Roman statues, beheaded by Christians, and sarcophagi, as well as the bronze statue of Artemis and a head of Apollo, among other historically important artifacts of various epochs.

The Temples of Apollo and Athena, located at the waterfront, are an important legacy of ancient times. The 2 Gods were considered to be the protectors of Side, and the Apollo Temple was comprised of 6 rows of 11 columns in each. Unfortunately today there are only a few columns that survived through the centuries, but they were restored and reinstalled to resemble the initial appearance of the sanctuary.

Agora in Ancient Greece was the main square of the city, usually located in the center of it. It was home to the central market and surrounded majestic columns on its sides, it had various galleries with hand-made items, temples and statues nearby. In ancient times, there were 2 Agoras in Side, since it was a major trading city, and one of them still exists today. It is interesting that one of the places that can be seen nowadays almost unchanged is the public toilet, or latrine, for 24 people, that was located in a semi-circular marble room with tiled walls.

The Roman Aqueduct, located in the Northwestern part of the city, was built in Side to deliver the water from Managavt River straight to the city for the citizens’ needs. The complex water delivery system consisted of 30 km of various structures, out of which there were 22 bridges and 16 tunnels spreading over 2,000 m. Most of the aqueducts of the city are now part of the Oymapinar Dam.

One of the top 10 things to do in Side is seeing the stunning Manavgat Waterfall, located 3 km outside of Side. The waterfall reaches 2m. in height and almost 40m. in width in some places! Around the waterfall visitors can find souvenir stores, restaurants serving fish and seafood, and cafes where they can enjoy the view over a cup of coffee. The spot where the Manavgat River meets the sea is truly beautiful, and there are various day tours that can take you here.

The ancient gates and walls surrounding the city were built in 2nd century BC and are an important landmark of Side. The gates, fortified with towers were built on the same place over and over again when they were destroyed or damaged. The walls of the city, stretching over 6km., were used for defense and observation purposes, as they surrounded and protected the town around the whole peninsula on which it is located.

Many of the famous works of ancient sculptors and unique architectural sites withstood centuries in Side and the Nymphaeum Waterfall is one of those. Located right across from the Big Gates, the fountain is the first landmark that the visitors see when entering the city. The monument looked absolutely stunning, with marble columns and beautiful statues, and though the days of its glory are long gone, as nowadays the travellers can only see the ruins of the 2 floors of the monument, we have historical data to show just how exquisite it was.

Those who enjoy the nightlife, like dancing to the fiery rhythms of the music with DJ’s, there are a number of nightclubs and discos in Side. Some of them are open-air and visitors can dance until the morning. Some of the best ones are Oxyd, the most popular and famous sea-side club, that looks like a fortress, Lighthouse Laguna Bar, Apollo Club and Disco Sammy.

After a long day of walking around the ancient city, sun-tanning on the beach or exploring the nearby towns, the best way to relax and recharge, is going to a Turkish bath and that is one of the top 10 things to do in Side. The benefits and positive effects that a proper peeling, bathing and massage can have on your skin are endless, and the classical Turkish bath can be enjoyed at various locations in the city, such as the Sultan Hamam Turkish Baths, Hamam Turkish Bath, Side Hamam and more.